title: Innovative public-private partnership: a diagonal approach to combating women's cancers in Africa.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In low- and middle-income countries, breast and cervical cancer have a poor prognosis, partly owing to barriers to treatment. To redress this situation, health systems must be strengthened.
  
  
  METHODS
  Pink Ribbon Red Ribbon (PRRR) is an innovative partnership designed to leverage public and private investments in global health and to build on the successful United States President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) platform to combat cancers of the breast and cervix in sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America. By supporting a comprehensive set of country-owned and country-driven interventions, PRRR seeks to reduce deaths from cervical cancer among women screened and treated through the programme and to reduce deaths from breast cancer by promoting early detection.
  
  
  METHODS
  In its initial phase, PRRR is supporting the governments of Botswana, Zambia and other countries in expanding cervical cancer prevention, screening and treatment coverage - especially to high-risk women with human immunodeficiency virus infection - and in strengthening breast cancer education and control services.
  
  
  RESULTS
  PRRR has introduced a diagonal strategy based on the life course and continuum of care approaches to cancer control. Its work has resulted in the delivery of the human papillomavirus vaccine to young girls in several settings and in the strengthening of prevention, screening and treatment delivery systems from the community to the tertiary level.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This paper outlines the approach PRRR has taken as a country-aligned public-private partnership and the preliminary lessons learnt, including the need for flexible implementation, effective country coordination mechanism and regular communication with all stakeholders.
authors.affiliation: Pink Ribbon Red Ribbon, George W Bush Centre, 2943 SMU Boulevard, Dallas, Texas 75205, United States of America (USA).
authors.forename: Doyin
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Oluwole
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kraemer
mesh_terms: D000349:Africa; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003906:Developing Countries; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D055818:Public-Private Sector Partnerships / Q000458:organization & administration*; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016387:Women's Health